MOM CAN SHAKE IT, TOO

The kids always want a chocolate shake when they see a Sonic. Their food is really not that great so that's usually all we get from there...And the occassional cherry limeade for me. So, I decided that I could make a chocolate shake just as easily. Yes, it's quite simple but geez I used up a whole gallon of ice cream just making 3 shakes. And I had to clean up the mess afterwards instead of pulling out of the Sonic carport and then just dropping the cups in the trash. Hmmm...Convenience or Cleaning??? That is a big conundrum with us...And I don't do cleaning very well. I wish I liked it or at least stayed on top of it, but it's just not my thing (or Nathan's or Cole's or Brooke's). Our house looks good when I am prepared for someone to visit, but I am so embarrassed when someone shows up unexpectedly. You'd think I would have figured it out after 2 apartments, 3 houses, and a decade of marriage. It is definitely a goal of mine to improve on this fall when Cole and Brooke are both in school. Soooo...We shall see.

The kids said that I make good "Mom Shakes".

Nathan has suddenly gotten this kick for chocolate shakes, too. Usually he doesn't eat hardly any sweets at all. We took the kids for ice cream at Maggie Moo's a couple of weeks ago. He got one of their milk shakes and craves them way too often now. Uhhhh...So much for helping each other eat better.

MAY 18th - COLE'S ASSEMBLY

Cole had his awards assembly for the first grade. I didn't think he was at this school long enough to get an award but surprisingly he did. Instead of the awesome straight S for satisfactory status that we had before, he got all A's and one B (grrr...to the teacher for not giving him any leniency on something he never learned before). I won't even go into the ridiculousness of the grading system. Apparently, Texas focuses more on math and science while Tennessee focuses more on reading and writing. Yes, it makes total sense that a child should be able to write perfectly in between useless giant lines instead of knowing how to add and subtract quickly. I'll make sure we complete the one-inch-letter-height-handwriting book over the summer instead of reading or math or thinking or anything else that might benefit my child in the future. Ok, that's all I'm going to say about that. Now for some pretty pictures.

I think Cole got 5 awards in Kindergarten. Honor roll is just about the only award they give out here. I feel so bad that Cole had to miss out on the last part of the year with his wonderful teacher and all his friends in Texas.

It is actually a nice little trophy award thing. I was shocked to see that his actual name was on there, too. Check out the "vintage" desks. They look like they are the original ones from when the school first opened long, long ago.The principal announced at the assembly that we could take our kids home when it was over if we chose to do so. Can you tell Cole was excited about that?In just a couple of short months Brooke will have her back pack on, too....Mommy tears.
Cole ran straight to his video games after lunch and this is what Brooke did. Oh how I wish I could still jump as if my body were weightless the way a child does. I don't even think my feet get an inch off the ground any more.

Cole was suppose to go only three days of school the last week. He went home around noon after the assembly on Monday, went the full day Tuesday and watched movies, and should have had a half day on Wednesday. When I picked him up on Tuesday they asked if he was coming the last day. What? Why wouldn't he? Oh that's right, you don't have to bring them if you don't want to since they already have their report cards and won't be counted absent. Sure, why didn't I think of that all those years ago when I was in school? Right before bed, I decided it would be a waste of time to take him up there for a few hours just to watch movies with a handful of kids. Yes...First week day of sleeping in...Or so I thought.

MOTHER'S DAY

This Mother's Day was something out of the ordinary. It was not at all bad, just very different. Normally, we go to church with my family and then meet at my mom's for a big lunch where everbody eats way too much. There are 15 of us there and lots of noise from all the little cousins squealing and playing together. The sliding back door is open because there always seems to be someone going in and out of the backyard and someone gets annoyed with the sound of it opening and closing over and over again. Multiple conversations are going on at once and the concentration level is quickly lowering. After a couple of hours, the kitchen and the house are in mass chaos from all the cooking and kids. We shower Mom with gifts and love, try to clean up, and head our separate ways...Until the next family birthday or holiday.

Since we now live in the far east, the normal was not possible. However, my mom decided that she wanted to be with her favorite child for Mother's Day. Just kidding Tim and Brent...She loves us all equally...Blah, blah, blah. So, I did get to spend Mother's Day with my mom. I chose a new church to visit. It is so uncomfortable going to a place where no one knows your name. But we went and experienced what they had to offer, whether it was our taste or not, and got through it. The music was not my favorite but the preacher was actually a good speaker even though his sermon made Nathan and I feel badly about some of our parenting choices. Evidently, he was doing a 4 week parenting series but seriously could have planned it around a different day. That was very fitting on Mother's Day to get a long lecture about what we shouldn't be doing and such. Slightly depressing.
Cole actually took this picture. He did pretty good after about 20 takes. For some reason he couldn't keep the camera still and push the button at the same time. He kept insisting that it was right before he pushed it but, for some reason, our heads would be missing on the screen afterwards. He tried so hard though.Brooke was so not in the mood for pictures. I rarely allow anyone to take pictures of me so it was especially nice that she was being such a brat about having her picture taken with me....And on Mother's Day.

The only reason I put this on here is because it is the only picture with me and the kids together...Plus Cole looks really sweet. Nathan was nice enough to take the picture without a 1,2,3 warning. I need every second to prepare to adjust my hair around my fat face, fake my smile, and stick my neck out. He doesn't care to take lots of pictures for selection purposes though. He's more of the one and done type. Thanks...Appreciate it!

What a good picture...That I took I might add. My guys look so handsome.

We took all of these pictures while my mom put my kitchen to use preparing a wonderful lunch. The kids enjoyed getting so much attention from Grandpa playing outside. Without hesitation, he does the things we are too lazy to do sometimes.

While it was very nice to be able to spend Mother's Day with my mom, it was also bitter sweet. I did feel guilty that Nathan's mom was not enjoying the day with her youngest child the same way my mom was. I know that she was so very upset that we weren't there with her this special day or her birthday the week before. Normally, we would have spent the Saturday before at her house and enjoying the day together. Getting a card in the mail just does not compare to being able to hug your child. While we know she understands, it still makes you feel awful when you hear the sadness over the phone. However, the love is and will always be there, and we can all take comfort in knowing that...We just have to remind ourselves of it a little more often now.

OUR FIRST VISITORS

We had our first visitors here in Tennessee. Grandma and Grandpa came...And brought their little dog, too. I think as soon as we found out we were moving, Grandma was already planning to visit on Mother's Day weekend.

The kids were so excited when they saw their car pull up. They were jumping up and down and screaming, "They're here, they're here!"

We set up the guest quarters as best as we could in the office, but Ginger still chose to bed hop every night.

Brooke loved Ginger's attention and was quickly willing to trade in her big dog for a little dog that could sleep in her bed.

We've never really played hosts to guests for more than a night...And when we did, it was a niece or nephew. That's much different when the guests are your parents. While it was so very special for my parents to make the long drive to come and visit us, I have to admit that it was a little strange, too. Mom and Daddy, out of habit, always just do everything for you. It is hard to remember that the roles are supposed to be reversed now that we're all grown up. I forget to do things all day long and usually just get things done randomly, but that isn't very productive when you have guests that don't go about their day the same way. Actually, I'm sure it is down right annoying. It was a new experience for us all, but one that we will have many opportunites to improve on and be better prepared for before long.

MAY 5th - POPE SCHOOL MUSICAL

Cole's school did a little end of the year musical. It was really fancy in the portable gymateria or cafeterium or what ever you call it. All the grades stood there and sang five songs from High School Musical. The verses are a jumbled cluster of forgotten words, but the choruses are loud and clear. Impressive. Check Cole out during the choruses where he suddenly realizes that he knows the words. Obviously, he was told to be still, but I think he really wanted to release his inner Danny Zuko and bust out a wop ba-ba lu-mop a wop bam boom!

Brooke wore her High School Musical shirt to support her brother. Actually, it was a complete coincidence, but it sure looked like I was the thoughtful mom on top of things and perfectly planning everything with no sweat.

WATCH OUT TAYLOR SWIFT

I just had to put this video of Brooke on here. She gets so embarrassed about seeing or hearing any video of her and would be really upset to know it was on here, but I just couldn't resist.

I began singing "You are My Sunshine" to her when she was just a baby. For the last few years we have been singing this at bedtime and then saying the same prayer afterwards.

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for this day.

Thank you for our family.

Please watch over us and everybody we love,

And help us to have a good day tomorrow.

And please remember us.

In Your name we pray,

Amen.

At first, Brooke was singing pretty and quitely and would whisper the prayer. She sounded so sweet. Then she found her groove and was in the zone. She had been singing like this for a few minutes before I finally found the camera. I just knew she would stop once I started recording, but surprisingly she just kept going. She is so painfully shy to most people and I just couldn't believe she was singing like this. She would have never done this if Cole or Nathan were home.

She couldn't see me because I was in the kitchen with the camera pointed around the corner. I figured she would come and find me but she never did. It was pretty difficult to keep the camera still and keep from laughing at the same time. Once she sat up and saw me she flipped out and ran to her room screaming. It took a few minutes to calm her down, but the video was so worth it. I love her.

Watch out Taylor Swift!

By the way, probably best if you don't mention you saw this to Brooke.

JAXX GAME & FIREWORKS

Jackson has a minor league double A baseball team for the Seattle Mariners called the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx. The stadium is nothing fancy compared to the Texas Rangers or even the Grand Prairie Air Hogs, but it seems to be pretty special for this town. We got the tickets almost 2 weeks in advance since it was part of Cole's birthday and we wanted to make sure we got good seats. Evidently, everyone just buys tickets right before the game because the guy said he gave us the best seats in the house. Right behind home plate, Row 1 Seats 1-4.Advertisements generally include, beer, news, etc. I thought it was funny that they had one for divorce lawyers...Especially in the section of baseball, beer, and sports talk. Maybe the lawyers thought it was a good combo for a bitter subject in some marriages.
I guess they don't get the privalege of showing their entire face until they make it to the majors.

They had lots of silly games to entertain the fans in between every other inning. I think Brooke enjoyed that much more than the actual game.
Every Saturday night that the Jaxx are in town, they do a fireworks show after the game. We didn't expect it to be much, but it was actually pretty good. They played lots of good music and did a lot more fireworks than we anticipated. I tried to take a few pictures so I missed the first couple minutes on the video. They also let the kids run the bases after the fireworks. Brooke wanted to do it, too. Her feet were moving so fast in her flip flops trying to keep up with Cole but he sped off and left her behind. She didn't like that too much once she rounded third base.

The video didn't show it too clearly but Brooke was balling and screaming towards the end because Cole left her. She had such a good time during the game and actually clapped and cheered for the right team. I hated for it all to end on a bad note.

It would've been nice to see a homerun, but the Jaxx did win the game 3-1.

For some reason Nathan decided to buy the kids a little baseball bat. Awesome! Just what we need...A scar on the other eye! The kids got their little bats signed by Ribbee after the game. I don't even know what this mascot is supposed to be. Brooke liked him from a distance but wasn't getting another inch closer to that thing.

COLE'S 7th BIRTHDAY

Cole was so excited to see the presents sitting there when he woke up in the morning. After breakfast he got to choose one to open before he went to school.

Right before Cole left for school he got a phone call from his first grade teacher in Texas. School starts 15 minutes earlier there, so she had the whole class waiting on speaker phone. Cole was shocked when he heard Mrs. Jacobs' voice and had the biggest smile on his face. They sang Happy Birthday to him and one by one said "Hi" and their name. He got a little sad when she said they missed him and he said he missed them, too. Nathan and I were both a little misty eyed the whole time. It was so sweet for the kids and Mrs. Jacobs to think of Cole but yet so sad because he had to leave all of his friends behind. I really wish I had recorded the phone call but I wasn't quite prepared. Thanks Mrs. Jacobs...That was so thoughtful and a very special part of the day!

Nana sent a Hannah Montana doll for Brooke.

We all went and had lunch with Cole at school. We brought him the oh so yummy McDonald's and cookies to share with his class. They all sang Happy Birthday to him, too.

We already had plans to go to the baseball game on Saturday night, so we told Cole we were just going to watch a movie and have a family party at home. We surprised him after school at took him to the fabulous Chuck E Cheese's. He was very excited and happy about that. The Chuck E Cheese's here is maybe half the size of the one in Grand Prairie...And it's on the corner of a strip center. I was a little disappointed in it but the kids didn't care. They had lots of fun...Including Nathan who played games the whole time, too.

Nathan started shooting with his left hand to give Cole a chance to catch up with him, but he still couldn't let him win...Even on his birthday.

Cole wanted to watch this movie on the Disney Channel called Hatching Pete. It had been advertised for about a month and he would not let us forget that it was premiering on his birthday. So, after Chuck E Cheese we picked up dinner and then they all watched the movie while I finished up Cole's cake.

As usual, I had some drama with cake. I don't know why I make such a big deal about the cake, but I just really want it to be special. The problem is that I don't really know how to properly manage my time and execute the ideas I have in my head so it turns in to this big ordeal...Every time. I actually did buy the right icing this time, but when I went to put it in the bag, the box of bags was empty. I've used ziploc bags before, but for some reason it just wasn't working for me this time. The bags kept busting causing an icing explosion. Even though he thought I was being ridiculously OCD about it all, Nathan did try to help me fix it. I ended up rushing up to Hobby Lobby 15 minutes before closing. The stupid thing about it is that the cake was completely iced with chocolate, but I just had to have the white detailing on there. It really wasn't necessary since it was nearly 8 pm and Cole was still waiting for the rest of his presents, but I just couldn't let it go. He wasn't having a big party with lots of people so I really wanted him to at least be able to have a special cake.

The movie was over and it was finally cake & present time.

Nana got this shirt for Cole. ..Very fitting.

We gave Brooke some things, too. Cake and present time was over. I enjoyed cleaning up the kitchen and all the cake mess by myself.